Paris reopens River Seine to public swimmers for first time in 100 years

On Saturday, the River Seine welcomed back swimmers, marking the end of a 100‑year prohibition on bathing in its waters.

Dozens of enthusiasts were among the first to dive in, celebrating what officials describe as one of the enduring legacies of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Three waterfront zones have been prepared for public use, one beside the Eiffel Tower, another near Notre Dame Cathedral, and a third in the city’s eastern arrondissements. Each site features changing cabins, showers, and beach‑style seating, accommodating up to 300 visitors laying out towels on the banks.

The swimming areas will remain open without charge through the end of August, operating at set hours for children aged 10 or older and teenagers from age 14, depending on the location. Certified lifeguards will patrol the waterways around the clock to ensure safety.

The ban on swimming stretches back to 1923, when pollution levels in the Seine became a serious health hazard. A proposal to lift the prohibition first emerged in 1988 under then‑Mayor Jacques Chirac, but it took decades of water‑quality improvements to make the idea feasible.

“Until July’s Olympics, the Seine had never been deemed safe enough for open‑water events,” noted an official from the city’s water management authority. Ahead of the Games, France poured more than 1.4 billion euros (USD 1.6 billion) into upgrading the river’s cleaning stations and reducing sewage overflows. “Improvements over the last 20 years have already led to a sharp reduction in faecal bacteria entering the river,” the authority added.

Despite these efforts, heavy rains in the lead‑up to the Olympics caused raw sewage to enter the water, and early testing showed contamination spikes. Athletes in triathlon, marathon swimming, and paratriathlon formats reported limited training opportunities on the Seine as a result. To reassure participants and the public, Mayor Anne Hidalgo and members of the Paris 2024 organizing committee waded into the river last July, declaring it safe.

“We are thrilled to open our shores to everyone,” said Hidalgo at the ribbon‑cutting ceremony. “This moment celebrates both the revival of our river and the sustainable vision of the Olympic legacy.”